Scan barcode
jurizprudence's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
i've always been fascinated by space travel—more by the idea of it rather than the technicalities, and while i admit that oftentimes the terms in a sci fiction get lost to me, i found myself devouring everything ariadne said in this letter-like/travel-diary novella. i am not the biggest fan of science textbooks from our school, but i loved learning about some areas of the subject in here. a bonus because the whole crew exploration of exoplanets reminded me of interstellar and the martian, topped with reflections of humanity and humility. and the question ariadne left hanging towards the end about how we would view their contributions as astronauts—are all they did just an unwanted and wasteful research to us? do we really care?— was bittersweet and hard-hitting, because even though i said that i am fascinated about space exploration, i, too, have mixed feelings about its necessity on the whole. i really wished my teachers taught chemistry as great and approachable as chambers explained chirality
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Confinement
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
inkdrinkers's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
S P A C E
This is my first experience with Becky Chambers and it blew me out of the freaking water. I loved the writing from the first page and was so hooked with the way the story developed as a letter to Earth.
The characters are SO GOOD. I don't know if I can properly convey how much I loved the four main characters, all so richly created they felt real. I loved that this quartet was as much of a family as an intimate support system. It was so refreshing to see casual asexual and Trans rep in a sci-fi novel.
I won't say much about the plot. The journey of discovery is so important in this novella. But I will say if Becky Chambers' other books are even 25% as well crafted as this one, she's my new favorite author. What an absolutely wonderful experience of a novella. I want to pick this up and start from the beginning again.
This is my first experience with Becky Chambers and it blew me out of the freaking water. I loved the writing from the first page and was so hooked with the way the story developed as a letter to Earth.
The characters are SO GOOD. I don't know if I can properly convey how much I loved the four main characters, all so richly created they felt real. I loved that this quartet was as much of a family as an intimate support system. It was so refreshing to see casual asexual and Trans rep in a sci-fi novel.
I won't say much about the plot. The journey of discovery is so important in this novella. But I will say if Becky Chambers' other books are even 25% as well crafted as this one, she's my new favorite author. What an absolutely wonderful experience of a novella. I want to pick this up and start from the beginning again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
isleoflinds's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Confinement
massivepizzacrust's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I loved so much about this book but I've never read an ambiguous ending I liked, so if you're like me you should know that going in. There were several scenes that made me tear up even in this short of a time. I want to hug all of these characters and I'm going to spend some time staring into space now (pun intended)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Gun violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Minor: Death of parent and War
storykath's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A four-person astronaut crew explores life-filled planets light-years away from Earth, thanks to the technology of somaforming. As they explore each new world, they learn more about the universe, and also about themselves, each other, and human nature. As they leave Earth farther behind, they must confront the possibility of what they will find when they eventually return.
I am a big Becky Chambers fan - the Wayfarers series has a special place in my heart. To Be Taught isn't too far removed from Wayfarers, in that it's speculative, cozy sci-fi with diverse characters and engaging moral quandaries. That being said, To Be Taught doesn't quite live up to Wayfarers for me. I miss the multiple perspectives and lengthier narratives that get sacrificed in novella form. Some of the science is believable and well-explained, while other aspects feel less fleshed-out. For instance, the narrator Ariadne's role on the crew often feels contrived; she doesn't actually do much as the ship's engineer, which conveniently leaves her with plenty of opportunity to help the others and thus observe and narrate their actions. When she does act in her role, she can be indecisive and unscientific, with a lot of "probably"s and "I don't know"s that never get methodically addressed like I would expect.
As always with Becky Chambers, To Be Taught is an interesting, easy-to-read sci-fi that effectively uses outer space and science to reflect inwardly on humanity. While I can't rave as much about this novella compared to any of the Wayfarers books, I am still glad to have it on my shelf.
I am a big Becky Chambers fan - the Wayfarers series has a special place in my heart. To Be Taught isn't too far removed from Wayfarers, in that it's speculative, cozy sci-fi with diverse characters and engaging moral quandaries. That being said, To Be Taught doesn't quite live up to Wayfarers for me. I miss the multiple perspectives and lengthier narratives that get sacrificed in novella form. Some of the science is believable and well-explained, while other aspects feel less fleshed-out. For instance, the narrator Ariadne's role on the crew often feels contrived; she doesn't actually do much as the ship's engineer, which conveniently leaves her with plenty of opportunity to help the others and thus observe and narrate their actions. When she does act in her role, she can be indecisive and unscientific, with a lot of "probably"s and "I don't know"s that never get methodically addressed like I would expect.
As always with Becky Chambers, To Be Taught is an interesting, easy-to-read sci-fi that effectively uses outer space and science to reflect inwardly on humanity. While I can't rave as much about this novella compared to any of the Wayfarers books, I am still glad to have it on my shelf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Death, Gun violence, and Sexual content
sagebrush_'s review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
fancymcgee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
this book literally has my heart beating out of tune. i don’t know how to exist with this in my head. the characters. fuck. the whole novella. dude. how did she write this. becky, how do you do this? only 130 pages and yet i am completely attached to characters and dumbfounded by the whole thing. the third planet? chikondi at the end of the second? JACK? wow. i. it was so much. i was so excited by the end of that discovery that i had to remind myself that it wasn’t real. i was absolutely and completely hooked. becky always fucking outdoes herself and to this day i think about her. i can’t. reading her books sends me into a spiral every goddamn time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Confinement, Animal death, Gore, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Grief
darlin_lazlo's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
anonymous_antagonist's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A novella about an astronaut polycule tackling philosophical questions about discovery, colonization, and the concept of knowledge without commodification. I think this book was written for me personally.
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
broughtyoubooks's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts